Woman detained for trying to sell three-month-old

A 40-year-old woman from Tiruchi was detained by the police for trying to sell a three-month-old boy to a family in Bharati Nagar, Guindy.

The woman, Maragadham, a native of Salem, claimed the child was hers and that she decided to part with the baby to escape abject poverty.

“Maragadham came to the city a few days ago with a three-month-old boy she claims is her son. As she could not find any work here and had no money for food, she decided to sell the child. On Friday morning, she met a family on Netaji Street in Bharati Nagar near Guindy railway station and decided to part with the child for Rs. 7,000,” said a police officer.

Some residents who had suspicions if the woman kidnapped the child alerted the police and a team from Guindy detained Maragadham for questioning.

“We are verifying her claim. Maragadham and the child have been sent to a welfare home in Manapakkam,” said K. Feroz Khan Abdullah, deputy commissioner, Adyar.